Actually this review is for the box set HE CAME FROM THE SWAMP: THE FILMS OF WILLIAM GREFE which includes this title.

One of the joys of movies being released on disc, especially now since newer titles are few and far between due to the pandemic, is discovering older titles or people in films you never knew of or at least knew little of. Arrow Video has been particularly good about releasing films like this beginning with their package of films by famed drive-in gorehound Herschell Gordon Lewis. Now they've packaged another tribute to a director from the glorious days of the drive-in: William Grefé.

You've never heard of Grefé? The odds are slim that most have. But I'm certain you've heard of some of his films. They were staples at the drive-ins years ago in its big years of the 60s and 70s. Movies like THE CURSE OF TARTU. Maybe STING OF DEATH. Or how about MAKO: THE JAWS OF DEATH? Grefe was responsible for these and many other films. But that's not the most interesting thing about him.

What is fascinating is that he made these films on shoestring budgets and made them in Florida rather than Hollywood. He lived there and was able to write, direct and find financing to put together these films that have found their way into the hearts of fans around the world. None of them are Oscar worthy but they are entertaining in their own unique way. Now Arrow has gathered together seven of those films as well as a documentary on Grefé.

Sting of Death (1966) is the story of a marine biologist studying the evolution of sea life. A group of students come to visit him and his assistants including his daughter. But none of them are safe when a half man/half jellyfish creature attacks them. Just what is behind this creature and where did it come from.

Death Curse of Tartu (1966) is perhaps Grefé's third most recognized film. With a name like that how could it not be? Once again we have researchers, this time archeologists, searching for answers in the Florida swamps. They end up disturbing the grave of an ancient witch doctor said to protect these lands. With the ability to change into animals like a snake or alligator their chances seem slim.

The Hooked Generation (1968) tackles the issue of drug runners in the Florida waterways. Led by Daisey his team has no problem killing the drug runners who imported the combination of heroin and marijuana as well as the Coast Guard members who try and take him down. These losers kidnap a couple and hold them hostage.

The Psychedelic Priest (1971) is one of the strangest films in the mix. A young priest leaves his parish to travel across country, picks up a hitchhiker who falls in love with him and then leaves her behind to go back to his parish.

The Naked Zoo (1971) at least had a star name involved. Rita Hayworth is an older Miami housewife who has an affair with a younger man. Her paraplegic husband responds violently.

Mako: Jaws of Death (1976) is one of the most well-known films Grefé did. Richard Jaeckel, another name actor, is a marine salvager that discovers he can communicate with sharks telepathically. Feeling that the sharks are our friends, he sets out to stop anyone who attacks the sharks. The film was a way to ride the wave of popularity of the film JAWS released the year before.

Whiskey Mountain (1977) has a group of treasure hunting young people looking in the hills of Whiskey Mountain finding themselves being attacked by a group of redneck drug runners. Here again Grefé was able to use a star name in Christopher George.

These are the films in the set along with the documentary They Came from the Swamp: The Films of William Grefé. It's an interesting film that includes footage from the films, backstage footage and interviews with Grefé and others who were in the films.

As I said these movies were not meant to be Oscar winners but they were entertaining. They were exploitation films that were made for the masses attending drive-ins across the country whose main interest wasn't always what was happening on the screen but who found enjoyment in them anyway. The fact is that you might as well. Or you could just pop some corn and pretend you're at the drive-in while watching them. Thankfully the folks at Arrow Video made the choice to save these films for posterity and offer them in pristine 4k condition along with a ton of extras. Bravo for them doing so.

For some strange reason Do-It-Yourself maverick Florida-based indie filmmaker William Grefe rarely seems to get his due. Fortunately, this lengthy and comprehensive documentary rights that particular wrong by covering all of Grefe's cinematic work in fascinatingly thorough detail. Starting out with Grefe growing up in Miami as an avid fan of John Ford's movies, with detours into acting in summer stock in New York and serving in the Navy for two years during the Korean war before getting down to the basic nitty gritty with a wealth of great and entertaining stories on each and every one of his motion pictures.

Among the best tales woven within are how Grefe shot his early films on weekends to get around union rules, family members helping out on the movies in multiple capacities, Grefe nearly managing to get a film made with Elvis Presley, a close call with an alligator on "Death Curse of Tartu," Harold Sakata almost getting killed due to a harrowing mishap during the shooting of the scene in which Sakata gets strung up on a rope in "Impulse," a shark that was supposed to be dead, but wasn't on "Mako: The Jaws of Death," and the pot in the cave being the real thing in "Whiskey Mountain." Such Grefe actors and collaborators as bubblegum pop music idol Steve Alaimo, veteran character actor John Davis Chandler, writer Gary Crutcher, "Stanley" star Chris Robinson, and make-up expert and monster man Doug Hobart relate lots of fun anecdotes on their time in the trenches with Grefe while film historian Chris Poggliali, Frank Henenlotter, Herschell Gordon Lewis, David F. Friedman, and Fred Olen Ray all give Grefe plenty of well-deserved props. Filled with behind the scenes footage and nifty film clips, this one sizes up as a spot-on loving tribute to William Grefe and his movies.

If you've been following along this week, you know exactly how much we love the films of William Gréfe. So this documentary - originally released by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures as a limited edition double disk (you can get it at Diabolik DVD) - is exactly the kind of thing that we devour, absorb and now, share with you.

Honestly, if you have the smallest interest in exploitation film or if you're an absolute maniac who thrills at the very mention of names like Barry Mahon and Crown International Pictures, then you absolutely must own this. Luckily, if you buy the new He Came from the Swamp set, you get this film along with several of Gréfe's films.

"If there were rules to making a movie, one indie director would break them all!" These are the kind of taglines that make me beyond overjoyed to watch a documentary and trust me, this one delivers.

As a Miami-based regional filmmaker, Gréfe transformed the Everglades into his own personal studio. This doc has everyone from Ross Hagen, Frank Henelotter, David F. Friedman and Fred Olen Ray to William Shatner, Herschell Gordon Lewis and many of the actors that worked with Gréfe on his many films all speaking about what it was like to be part of this magical time in low budget filmmaking.

If you're the kind of person who obsesses about the extras on a DVD, then you've probably seen the work of director Daniel Griffith. It's a real joy to see him expand his work to a full-length feature on one fascinating subject. I can't wait to see his next movie, Celluloid Wizards in the Video Wasteland: The Saga of Empire Pictures.